Small businesses are vital to Utah’s continued economic success. From starting a business to providing one-on-one consulting to incubators and funding opportunities, Utah is flourishing with resources and partners to help entrepreneurs succeed in today’s competitive global business environment.
Below are resources the office's business services team curated to help navigate the state’s vibrant business resource ecosystem.
If you have comments, questions, or feedback on the small business resources listed, please get in touch with us.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity champions the Cox/Henderson administration’s commitment to providing economic opportunity for all Utahns.
The office works with industries, Utah regions, communities, nonprofits, and other organizations to implement economic development strategies and reinforce Utah’s diverse, prosperous economy.
The office supports Utah entrepreneurs and businesses by administering federal and state resources to support Utah businesses. Some initiatives include the Center for Rural Development, Innovation Center, Small Business Credit Initiative, Immigration Assistance Center, Broadband Center, Office of Tourism, Film Commission, corporate recruitment, and grants for small businesses, nonprofits, local governments, and economic ecosystems.
The Utah District Office of the Small Business Administration (SBA) provides help with national SBA services, including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery.
The team can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed. The SBA organizes National Small Business Week activities in Utah every spring.
The Utah Department of Commerce is often the first step for small businesses looking to open their doors. It’s the licensing and registration agency for Utah companies and over 400,000 working professionals.
The department provides oversight of business registrations, trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, occupational and professional licensing, consumer protection, public utilities, securities, real estate, and residential mortgage lending. It also responds to consumer complaints within its areas of jurisdiction.
Specialty
- Access to Capital
- Accounting
- Business Registration
- Government Contracts
- Grants
- International Business
- Legal Resources
- Licensing
- Location Selection
- Networking
- Research
- Training & Skills
Industry
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Aerospace
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Life Sciences
- Technology
- Tourism
Community
- LGBTQ+
- Multicultural
- Rural
- Veteran
- Women
Resource | Description | Specialties | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Altitude Lab | A community of diverse founders elevating Utah’s healthcare innovation economy | Access to Capital; Networking; Training & Skills; Life Sciences; Healthcare; Multicultural | More |
BioHive | An association of Utah's life science & healthcare innovation ecosystem companies | Networking; Healthcare; Life Sciences; Technology | More |
Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) | Utah's site selector liaison | Location Selection; Research | More |
GOEO Grants | Statewide business grant opportunities | Grants | More |
Grow Utah | Fosters statewide entrepreneurship & connects startups to funding | Access to Capital; Networking | More |
iMpact Utah | Training & consultation services for Utah manufacturers | Training & Skills; Advanced Manufacturing | More |
Inspire In Utah Resources | Curated tools & information to help women entrepreneurs | Women | More |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | America's tax collection agency | Legal Resources | More |
Kem C. Gardner Institute | Prepares economic, demographic & public policy research that helps Utah prosper | Research | More |
Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute | A hub for student entrepreneurs at the University of Utah | Networking; Training & Skills | More |
Living Color Utah | Provides resources for Utah's diverse population (commissioned by Salt Lake City Corp.) | Networking; LGBTQ+; Multicultural; Women | More |
Magnify Utah | A resource and learning hub about presence, contributions, and dynamic strengths of Utah’s populations for a sense of community and understanding. | Networking; Multicultural | More |
MEP Center | Utah's official representative of the MEP National Network & founder of the Utah-MEP Alliance | Networking; Training & Skills; Advanced Manufacturing | More |
Pando Labs | The mountain entrepreneur ecosystem | Networking; Training & Skills | More |
PIVOT Center | Partners for innovation, ventures, outreach & technology at the University of Utah | Networking; Technology | More |
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) | Helps Utah businesses compete in the government marketplace | Government Contracts; Training & Skills | More |
Resources for Veteran-Owned Businesses | Business.com's list of resources for veteran entrepreneurs | Veteran | More |
Revolving Loan Fund Grantees | EDA.gov's list of revolving loan fund grantees in Utah | Access to Capital | More |
Rural Coordinating Council | Supports rural Utah communities & economies | Research; Multicultural; Rural | More |
SCORE | Provides free business mentoring & educational opportunities across Utah | Training & Skills | More |
Silicon Slopes | A hub for Utah's startup & tech community | Networking; Technology | More |
Small Business Administration (SBA) | Provides counseling, capital & contracting expertise | Access to Capital; Training & Skills | More |
Small Business Administration Size Standards | Table of small business size standards matched to North American Industry Classification System Codes | Legal Resources | More |
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) | Provides training, tools & free consultations | Access to Capital; Training & Skills | More |
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) | Non-dilutive R&D funding with assistance from the Utah Innovation Center | Access to Capital; Training & Skills | More |
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) | Non-dilutive R&D funding with assistance from the Utah Innovation Center | Access to Capital; Training & Skills | More |
Sorenson Impact Foundation | Invests in innovative social entrepreneurs looking to solve the world's most pressing issues | Access to Capital | More |
Southern Utah Entrepreneurship Hub | A coordinated network of federal, state & local business service providers | Access to Capital; Business Registration; Licensing; Training & Skills | More |
Statewide Tourism Partners | Statewide partners of the Utah Office of Tourism | International Business; Tourism | More |
Suazo Business Center | Resource for minority-owned businesses | Training & Skills; Multicultural | More |
Tax Incentives | Financial incentives for local & out-of-state companies seeking to expand or relocate to Utah | International Business; Location Selection; Advanced Manufacturing; Aerospace; Financial Services; Healthcare; Life Sciences; Technology | More |
The Mill Entrepreneurship Center | Veterans business resource center | Research; Training & Skills; Veteran | More |
Directory of Associations | Directory of trade associations located in Utah | International Business; Networking | More |
U.S. Congress | National legislative body | Legal Resources | More |
U.S. Economic Development Administration | A Utah government directory | Legal Resources | More |
U.S. Export Assistance Center | Provides counseling & a variety of products & services to assist small & midsized U.S. businesses in exporting their products & services | International Business | More |
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office | A resource for understanding, searching for & applying for trademarks | Business Registration; Legal Resources | More |
Utah Advanced Materials & Manufaturing Industry (UAMMI) | Assures the growth & sustainability of Utah’s advanced material & manufacturing industry | Training & Skills; Advanced Manufacturing | More |
University of Utah Research Park | A research hub intended to stimulate economic development in the state & retain talent by providing convenient access to research jobs | Location Selection; Research | More |
USBCI | Helps small businesses gain access to capital | Access to Capital; Training & Skills; Multicultural; Women | More |
USDA Rural Development - Utah | Supports rural prosperity in Utah by investing in modern infrastructure | Access to Capital; Grants; Location Selection; Rural | More |
Utah Administrative Rules | A compilation of administrative rules & Utah's equivalent to the Code of Federal Regulations | Legal Resources | More |
Utah Association of Chambers | A coordinating organization for statewide chambers of commerce | Networking | More |
Utah Association of Counties | A statewide organization of Utah's 29 counties | Accounting; Legal Resources; Networking; Research; Training & Skills | More |
Utah Association of CPAs | A professional organization for Utah CPAs | Accounting; Networking; Training & Skills | More |
Utah Bankers Association | Professional & trade association for Utah's commercial banks, savings banks & industrial loan corporations | Networking; Financial Services | More |
Utah Business Bridge | A virtual networking series about small business resources | Networking; Training & Skills | More |
Utah Department of Commerce – Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing | Protects the public & enhances commerce through licensing & regulation | Business Registration; Licensing | More |
Utah Department of Veterans & Affairs | Business resources for veterans | Research; Training & Skills; Veteran | More |
Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) | Statewide employment & public assistance programs | Business Registration; Grants; Training & Skills; Veteran | More |
Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) – Economic Data | Utah economic data by category | Research | More |
Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code | Helps facilitate corporate & commercial code filings & provides reliable information to the public | Business Registration; Legal Resource | More |
Utah Founders | A resource directory for entrepreneurs | Networking; Access to Capital; Training & Skills | More |
Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity | Cultivates prosperity, future-proofs Utah’s economy, & works with business at the speed of business | Grants; International Business; Training & Skills; Rural | More |
Utah Innovation Center | A catalyst for technology innovation in Utah | Access to Capital; Training & Skills; Technology | More |
Utah League of Cities & Towns | Represents municipal government interests at the state & federal levels | Networking; Training & Skills | More |
Utah Manufacturers Association | The voice of the manufacturing community in Utah | Networking; Training & Skills; Advanced Manufacturing | More |
Utah Micro Loan Fund | Provides small business loans & free business advising for underserved entrepreneurs | Access to Capital; Training & Skills; Multicultural; Women | More |
Utah Regional Economic Development Offices | A list of regional economic development offices statewide | Training & Skills | More |
Utah Residential Broadband Map | A map of Utah's residential broadband providers | Location Selection; Technology; Rural | More |
Utah State Bar | Governs the practice of law in Utah | Legal Resources | More |
Utah State Legislature | Utah's bicameral government body | Legal Resources | More |
Utah State Tax Commission | Conducts quasi-judicial hearings on state tax matters | Business Registration; Legal Resources; Training & Skills | More |
Utah Code Index | A compilation of the laws of the state passed by the legislature & arranged by subject | Legal Resources | More |
Utah System of Technical Colleges | A statewide network of eight technical colleges | Training & Skills | More |
Utah Tech University – Atwood Innovation Plaza | Business Resource Center, makerspace, startup incubator | Legal Resources; Training & Skills | More |
Utah-MEP | Provides manufacturing improvement services to Utah manufacturers | Training & Skills; Advanced Manufacturing; Rural | More |
VentureCapital.org | Utah's venture capital headquarters | Access to Capital; Training & Skills; Veteran; Women | More |
Wasatch Innovation Network | Collaborate on innovation, planning, talent recruitment & economic prosperity for the Wasatch Front | Networking; Training & Skills | More |
WeROC | Women Entrepreneurs Realizing Opportunities for Capital - by VentureCapital.org | Access to Capital; Networking; Training & Skills; Multicultural; Women | More |
Women Tech Council | Offers mentoring, visibility, opportunities & networking to women in the technology sector | Networking; Training & Skills; Technology; Women | More |
Women’s Business Center of Utah | Helps women start & grow businesses | Networking; Training & Skills; Women | More |
World Trade Center Utah | Accelerates growth for Utah companies through global networks, programs & services | Grants; International Business; Networking | More |